In the home game we lost to two set piece goals and could not find the passing football to unlock a team that rely on being physical. This time we were up for the challenge and took an early lead just past the quarter hour. Dominating the half there was a growing feeling that a second goal before the break would be needed but it did not come. Wick came out with renewed vigour for the second half and reinforced that feeling that a second was needed. A change up front gave our defence a tough time for a while and it was a half of dogged defending until inside the last five minutes we got the second goal to seal the game. It was in the fifth added minute that we scored again although at the wrong end as a sliced kick beat the keeper but with no time left for a Wick come back so it was 2-1.

On a lovely afternoon for football it was good to see Elliot Cannon and Stephen Hodge making their returns from injury to sit on the bench. Wick were doing well on their return to the Premier Division but they had a bad Christmas as from Boxing Day they went on a run of seven straight league defeats. They turned their form around in late February to then reel off four wins in a row to keep them out of the relegation scrap. Coming into this game they were on a run of three defeats so a draw seemed an unlikely result. We nearly gifted Wick a dream start in the first minute as a goal kick from Sammie Saward went to a Wick player and blushes were spared as he shot wide. Setting the tone of their game, a long ball was allowed to run through but their forward was not able to control the ball and it went behind. There was further generosity on five minutes as the ball was lost on the right and sent past a stranded Saward across the goal. He recovered to clear it but it came back out for a Wick shot that was straight into his arms.

Thankfully we then got our game together and on 7mins slide the ball through for Sirak Negassi to chase on his first start but was caught offside. Just past ten minutes and Tyrone Magala Bryan took the ball on the left touchline, beat their player to then drive down the line and cross deep to Jack McDonnell. He took the ball into the box and passed to Negassi but the ball was taken off his toe as he went to bring it down. We had a spell of possession around their box without creating an opening and conceded a throw. Saward was then alert when Hamza Abubakari was dispossessed outside the box and was able to clear their shot. Carl Brown was onto a long ball only to have gone too early and be caught by the flag. With a bit over a quarter hour played, Negassi won the ball and then found Brown onside this time. He took it into the box, cut back but his shot was wide of the left post. On 17mins Negassi held onto the ball in the centre and then played it to Jimmy Williams on the left wing. He fed it to Brown in the box on the left for him to shape a shot past the keeper and inside the right post for 1-0. In the following minute, McDonnell had a shot from distance but it lacked the power to trouble the keeper.

As twenty minutes approached, Prince Aderogba was strong in defence on the left at the expense of a corner. The ball went behind for a second corner that Saward came out to punch clear of the box. On the attack again, Brown gathered the ball and played it out to Williams on the left. He kept the ball well under pressure and played it to Negassi in the box but he was not really set for his shot so it was wide and high. It was Negassi again as he chased down a long ball into the left corner, crossed into the box for Abubakari to head on to McDonnell on the right. His snapshot was wide of the left post. On 26mins Wick were tackled for the ball on the left and then Abubakari linked up with Kobi Asante to play it forward to Negassi to win a throw. A mix up between Wick's defenders saw the ball rebound to put Negassi clear on the keeper but his shot was straight at him. Another slick move involving Jason Stripp playing a one-two with Williams and through to Negassi on the left only for the ball to bobble on the dry pitch but he won a corner. Stripp put the corner in deep to the far post where Conor Wilford headed it back for Magala Bryan who forgot he was attacking and headed it clear.
From a free kick on the left touchline on 34mins, it fell to Wilford for a shot wide of the left post. Wick got clear for a shot from the right that Saward gathered although it was swinging wide of the left post. Inside the last ten minutes and a lovely ball slid into the box by Abubakari evaded all three of our forward players. In the play that followed Wick should have been reduced to ten men as their No. 8 stamped on Aderogba but somehow all three officials managed not to see it. Three to play and McDonnell worked himself clear but was judged to be offside but it must have been tight. Negassi was the next to be caught by the flag having controlled the ball well. The final minute and Asante battled well to win the ball in the centre and then shoot but it was soft and straight at the keeper. At half time, in control after a shaky first five minutes but only one goal to show for it.

A change up front by Wick at half time saw them make a sharp start as Magala Bryan was there to block in the first minute. The ball ran free and Saward saved the shot but having got the rebound Williams lost the ball and a fabulous tackle by Magala Bryan stopped an equaliser. The corner was overhit and drifted out at the far post. The half time substitute had the pace to trouble Wilford and left you wondering why he did not start. However he had an experienced opponent and on 52mins Wilford lured him into a foul to stop their possession. A minute later the pair were tussling again and although cleared the ball fell to Wick to drive into the box with men over. Too focussed on going forward and shooting, he ignored the pass across the box and saw his shot go straight at Saward. On 58mins it was a first corner of the half as Stripp delivered it from the right. Wilford got his head on it and the ball came out to Magala Bryan to test the keeper with a ball under the bar. A minute later Brown had a half chance but he was not able to get his head onto the ball.

Just past the hour and McDonnell was pushing down the line to find Brown in the box. He returned the ball and McDonnell crossed into the box. Abubakari got the ball and slid it out the Williams on the left only to see the ball go behind. A free kick for Wick on 65mins was met with solid defending and a final shot that was high and wide. A first change on 67mins brought a change of shape as goalscorer Brown was replaced by Rhyan Ramsay making a rare appearance. A couple of minutes later a turnover from our break forward saw Wick in at the back but again they made the wrong choice allowing Magala Bryan to again put in a great block. The second goal seemed to be arriving on 71mins as great work by Aderogba to won the ball and sent Asante in on goal. Having rounded the keeper he prodded the ball goalwards only for a wonderful bit of work to clear it off the line at the last minute.

On 74mins Wick had a chance on goal but as with most of their finishing it was wayward again as the shot was wide. With fifteen minutes remaining, Asante put a ball through to Negassi but he hung to the ball too long trying to work space and lost the ball. A minute later Negassi did work space on the left but saw his shot deflected for a corner that nothing came of. On 79mins Abubakari was replaced by club captain David Heaton. Wick looked to have a good chance with just under ten to play but the offside flag was raised. A poor free kick given away just outside the box gave Wick the chance to go for goal and it was a good shot that whistled just over the bar. Then on 86mins Wick lost the ball and set up Negassi to tap home the second goal with the keeper stranded. The final three changes came with Aderogba, Williams and Negassi being replaced by Stephen Hodge, Elliot Cannon and Andrew Harris to see out the game. While this was happening the player guilty of the first half stamp said something to the referee that saw him off for the remainder of the game. At least this time it was not the goalkeeper sent to sit out the rest of the game.

With two minutes to go, Cannon was nearly in with a chance but the keeper claimed well. Into added time with four minutes played and Asante was sent clear to face the keeper only for a great tackle to stop him. A minute later Wick put the ball in the box and an awful sliced clearance by Magala Bryan looped over Saward into the goal. However, it was all too late for a Wick rally as the final whistle came and it was 2-1 to The Lingers.

The win took us a point clear of our hosts Wick but how far up the table depended on how the teams above us faired. Pagham lost to second placed Crowborough Athletic looking to nail down a play off place. AFC Varndeanians hosted play off chasing Crawley Down Gatwick and did well but could only draw. So we shoot up to twelfth place in the table and are now clear of the relegation battle that involves the bottom six teams with nine points left to play for. Although we have tough games against play off chasing Eastbourne United and Crowborough Athletic at Whyteleafe followed by a final day trip the Horsham YMCA, we are now just four points behind Midhurst & Easebourne in eleventh. They are on run of five defeats in a row and have a couple of tough games to play including a derby trip to Petersfield Town.

Of the bottom six clubs, Saltdean United will have Crowborough visit; Shoreham host fellow bottom sixers Horsham; Little Common will have the tough task of the champions Hassocks; and Loxwood play AFC Varndeanians so it is likely the bottom two will be set next Saturday. At the other end, Crowborough are a point short of confirming the play offs. Third to ninth places are separated by seven points with the last team Newhaven on an unbeaten run although they host champions Hassocks on the last day. As to who might be coming down into our league, last year's double winners Steyning Town are already relegated along with Lancing who were promoted post Covid. Littlehampton Town need a point from three games to ensure safety.